Attending so many Bulldog-sporting events has taught me a few things. One, attendance is never good, two I am a sports addict and may need a life, and three, no matter the sport, there have been crazy, unbelievable, fun, and entertaining moments, which only sports can provide. Sure, most of the time I witnessed or was a part of losing, but that made the wins even more satisfying.

Basketball is a staple of Garfield athletics and while most just remember riding to Tacoma, A.D.’s nasty dunk, and missing school, no one witnessed the game before against rival Roosevelt. One of the most exciting, up and down basketball games (besides Garfield vs. Franklin) in recent GHS history. The constant heckling of Roosevelt players, and referees, being told to sit down by conference officials, and drowning out the noise of the Roosevelt cheering section made the game more memorable. When Roosevelt missed a tying three at the buzzer twenty proud Bulldogs stormed the court and celebrated in jubilation with the basketball players at mid-court.

Sophomore year was especially memorable because it was the last state title for any Garfield sport. The girls won the state title and were the most entertaining basketball team I’ve seen during my four years of high school. But an event that I will always remember was an afternoon baseball game versus Redmond. Standing outside of Medgar Evers, with Garfield down three in the last inning and the bases loaded Austin Wade stepped to the plate. Now, Garfield baseball never hits homeruns, especially at their home field, where there are no fences. But of course Austin hit a shot into the right center field gap. Watching four Bulldogs sprint around the bases and then mob Austin at home plate in front of fifteen stunned eastside boys was an amazing sight.

Football has been a running joke for kids at Garfield ever since I got here, but that ridicule doesn’t diminish any of the three wins Garfield has in the last four years. The last time Garfield won a game I was lucky enough to play a major part in it. When the game ended and for once the Memorial Stadium scoreboard showed Garfield with more points than other team the football field turned into a giant hyphy dance party for ten minutes.

That same year, I witnessed a golden goal in a playoff soccer match, which resulted in a GHS patented storming of the pitch by thirty students. There are also the moments that didn’t have a wild celebration afterwards. There were the softball games where scoring one run was celebrated like a win. Carpooling to games on the eastside because buses did not show up. Beating an eastside team at football for a half, then falling apart in the second. Watching Franklin score 100 points against my fellow classmates in a sweaty, but packed Franklin gymnasium for the eleventh time in a row. Witnessing the baseball team lose to Bothell 19–2, wasn’t pretty, and neither was getting beaten by Ballard 4–1 in soccer.

Most recently, watching the swim team compete at state, and seeing the track team dominate in multiple sprint events and qualify for state, created more moments to remember.

Garfield doesn’t take athletics too seriously because we have a variety of students with a variety of interests. It is a refreshing attitude because too many other schools put way to much emphasis on kids throwing and catching a ball. But some of the best representations of Garfield and its student body are shown through sports. Too often no one sees these incidents, which is a shame. Sure it’s easier to go see and support a dominant team and it would be nice if we won more titles and a few more football games, but if you have the time, stop by a baseball game or a tennis match. Or make the drive to the eastside for a basketball game because you may see something that you’ll remember for a long time.

Junior sprinter Stephone Jordan has won every individual race this year and has been a major part of the relay teams. He has won at conference, invitational, and district meets. And if he continues to run the way he has all season than three state victories could easily be a possibility this weekend in Pasco.

Jordan qualified for state in three individual events last weekend, the 110 and 300-meter hurdles, and the 200– meter dash. He also ran the third leg of the 4x100 meter relay, which placed second at districts last Saturday.

While most athletes would be ecstatic just for reaching state, Jordan expects more out of himself.

“I didn’t like how I did, but I made it state,” said Jordan, “I’m not happy about my times. They were all slow.”

The fact that Stephone ran slow according to his standards and still won all three individual events represents how skilled this sprinter is. Over the course of the season Jordan has recorded state best times in both of his hurdle events, with a 14.43 in the 110 hurdles and a 37.93 in the 300-meter hurdles. Jordan holds the third best time in the 200 meters, but with competition like Evergreen’s Ryan Hamilton hampered by a hamstring pull, Stephone’s opportunity for a three peat is there for the taking, but Jordan is not letting victory dominate his thoughts.

“I did ok at state as a sophomore,” said Jordan, “This year I just want to PR [personal record] in everything. I don’t want to go after state records.”

Even with a wait and see attitude most people expect Stephone to do more than just PR.

“My hurdle coach wants me to go for the junior state record, but I don’t really mind. If I win, I win, if I lose, I lose.”

Some superstars have a tendency to focus on themselves, but Jordan looks at state as an opportunity for the team.

“Last year we won about five meets. This season we surpassed that and I know a lot of people have gotten faster, and I’m happy about that.”

Even with the team’s successful season, him holding state best times, and three district individual wins, Stephone doesn’t even consider this year an amazing season.

“My season has been up and down. Some of the wins I’ve had, I didn’t really like, but I guess it’s alright.”

Even with Stephone’s humility, the junior sprinter has earned Player of The Year honors, and don’t be surprised if he brings home three first place finishes this weekend, which no matter what Stephone says is a pretty successful season.

“My goal is to make it to state,” said Blum.

Last year the team lost some close matches and this year beating city rivals and a couple of Eastside schools are top priority.

“Hopefully we can get a person to state this year and be number one out of the Seattle schools” said Phillips. “If we can beat the Ballards, Franklins and Bothell, it will be a good year.”

Golf is a competitive sport. Ironically, however, the members like it because of its relaxed atmosphere.

“It’s more of a laid-back sport, and I just love playing it,” said Blum.

All the players on the team like the way Coach Phillips manages the team.

“He is competitive and he cares about it, and that helps the team stay focused,” said Blum.

Even though golf is such an individual sport, Coach Phillips is still a major influence on the success of the team. He has to pick the ten players who he feels will provide the best scores on match day, which can vary because of what kind of course they are at or how certain individuals are playing at that particular time.

“I don’t have to work with the players’ swing because the kids who play in the matches know what they are doing,” said Phillips. “I mostly manage the athletes on the course.”

Since anyone can join the team regardless of experience, Phillips coaches only new players one-on-one.

“Normally, I will help out new players by letting them know the rules and how to perform proper golf etiquette,” said Phillips. “And then I will help with their game when needed.”

Golf is often not considered a sport, but don’t tell that to the GHS team or Coach Phillips. Often people make ignorant assumptions about this difficult sport, irking many golfers.

“People think golf is a recreational sport and that it is easy,” said Phillips, “People don’t think that it is a hard sport, but it is. It is a game of strictly skill. Golf is less physical, but it requires more mental ability. That’s why I always tell people to try to play and let them see for themselves how difficult this sport is.”

It seems that many young kids aren’t playing golf either. This year there are only a few new freshmen, which could possibly make an impact in future years. However, there are always enough players with an interest in the game for Garfield to field a competitive team. Look for the senior stars to shine in the 2005 golf season for the Garfield Bulldogs.